Abstract: The collection includes significant materials, many of them serial publications, relating to the San Jose State Normal School
and San Jose State College, the U.S. Food Administration Program in Santa Clara County, and early 20th century maps of San
Jose and Santa Clara County.

Language of Materials note: Materials are in English.

Immediate Source of Acquisition note

The materials were donated by Helen Mignon.

Conditions Governing Access note

The collection is open to the public for research by appointment.

Conditions Governing Use note

Property rights reside with History San Jose. For permissions to reproduce or to publish, please contact History San Jose
Research Library.

Preferred Citation note

Helen Mignon Collection 1979-2555, History San Jose Research Library, San Jose, California 95112-2599.

Biographical/Historical note

Helen Mignon graduated from San Jose State Teachers College in 1902 and taught Home Economics as an emeritus professor at
San Jose State College in San Jose, California. She joined the faculty in 1912 and was named head of the department in 1924.

Scope and Contents note

The bulk of the collection is related to the teaching of homemaking (or home economics) at San Jose State College during the
period 1917-1935, as well as other publications relating to student life during that time. In addition, there are a significant
number of alumni publications dating from 1925-1958 as well as alumni papers from 1924-1931. Commencement programs (1874-1912,
1914-1929, 1931-1959) and student/faculty directories (1919, 1921-26, 1929-39, 1948-54, 1956-57), as well as catalogs from
1883-1913, are also found in the collection. There are 20 scrapbooks containing news clippings relating to San Jose State
University from 1919-1952 and the U.S. Food Administration programs from both World War I and World War II. Other U.S. Food
Administration materials specific to Santa Clara County include bulletins, reports, correspondence (1917-1919), food guides
and campaigns. The collection also contains two boxes of scattered school publications.